JSW MG Motor India has launched the Hector Tomahawk PHEV at an introductory price of Rs 25.70 lakh (ex-showroom) alongside the all-electric version of this brand-new SUV. It is India’s first mainstream plug-in hybrid SUV, claimed to deliver over 115km of electric-only range and a combined fuel efficiency figure of over 40kpl. MG says the Tomahawk PHEV can cover over 1,100km with a full tank of fuel and a fully charged battery.
- Hector Tomahawk PHEV is claimed to deliver over 1,100km combined range
- It is powered by a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 20.5kWh battery
- Available only in a 7-seater configuration
Here’s a look at the full price list of the MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV:
The Tomahawk PHEV is also available under a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) programme, where prices start at Rs 21.79 lakh, with an additional Rs 3.20 per km charged as battery rental. Bookings for the Tomahawk PHEV have commenced, and deliveries will begin in November this year. However, these prices will apply to a limited number of bookings.
MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV dimensions
Available in a 7-seater configuration, the Hector Tomahawk PHEV finds itself in the company of the Mahindra XUV 7XO and Tata Safari. To give you a perspective of its size, the Hector Tomahawk PHEV measures 4,745mm in length and has a 2,810mm wheelbase – it’s longer than both the XUV 7XO (4,695mm) and Safari (4,668mm). It is 1,850mm wide and 1,770mm high.
MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV powertrain and specs
The Tomahawk is the first product based on MG ADAPT, the company’s flexible new-energy vehicle architecture that can accommodate battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, range-extended electric and hybrid powertrains.
What makes the Tomahawk PHEV unique among its petrol- and diesel-powered rivals is its powertrain. It uses a 1.5-litre, naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle petrol engine paired with a 20.5kWh battery pack and a permanent magnet electric motor. On its own, the combustion engine produces 102hp and 125Nm, while the electric motor produces 201hp and 237Nm. The total combined output is rated at 198hp and 230Nm.
This powertrain is mated to a dedicated hybrid transmission with an e-clutch and is claimed to have a thermal efficiency of 43.2 percent. Being a PHEV, there are four drive modes: pure EV (electric motor drives the wheels), series hybrid (engine recharges the battery, while the electric motor drives the wheels), parallel hybrid (both engine and electric motor together drive the wheels for maximum performance) and engine direct drive (engine directly powers the wheels to minimise conversion losses for efficient highway driving).
What’s interesting is that the powertrain automatically shuffles between all the modes, requiring no manual input from the driver. MG claims the system switches modes in just 0.1 seconds, depending on vehicle speed, throttle inputs, state of charge and road conditions.
As mentioned earlier, electric-only range is rated at over 115km, and with a full tank of fuel and a completely charged battery, it can travel over 1,100km. Meanwhile, a 3.3kW AC charger can top up the battery from 10 to 100 percent in 7.5 hours, while a 25kW DC charger takes 35 minutes to recharge it from 30 to 80 percent.
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MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV exterior design and colours
Visually, the Tomahawk PHEV has quite a busy-looking front end with multiple colours and trim elements. Compared to the EV, which has a minimalistic fascia, the PHEV version gets a large functional grille with chrome elements, gloss-black garnishes below the rectangular headlamps and a chunky, bull bar-like silver trim piece on the bumper.
The side profile, in contrast, has much smoother surfaces. It also gets prominent body cladding near the door sills and over the wheel arches and handsome 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels. The white-coloured roof in the dual-tone variants creates a nice floating effect. At the rear, the SUV features wraparound rectangular tail-lamps and a two-tone bumper.
MG will offer the Hector Tomahawk PHEV in six monotone shades: Starry Black, Aurora Silver, Shadow Gold, Pearl White, Turquoise Green and Celadon Blue; the last two are also available as dual-tone options with a white roof.
MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV interior and features
The Hector Tomahawk PHEV’s cabin is minimalistic, with a large 15.6-inch touchscreen dominating the dashboard. It also gets a free-standing 8.8-inch digital driver’s display, a flat-bottomed two-spoke steering wheel and a large floating centre console with lots of storage spaces, integrated cup holders and a wireless charging pad.
There’s generous use of soft-touch leatherette materials on the dashboard and door pads, lending it a premium feel. However, physical buttons are very few, so most functions, are operated through the touchscreen. The interior is largely identical to that of the all-electric version, save for the upholstery colours.
In terms of features, the Hector Tomahawk PHEV offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, gesture controls for functions such as air conditioning and audio settings, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated and powered front seats, a powered tailgate, 256-colour ambient lighting, a 10-speaker Infinity sound system, connected car tech, rear window sunshades and a memory and auto-retract functionality for the driver’s seat. As for safety, six airbags are standard. It also gets a 360-degree camera setup with transparent-bonnet and wheel-view functions and a Level 2 ADAS suite.
Dipan Sur
Dhruv Dhaka
Viraaj Bhatnagar
